Inductees will be announced closer to the end of the year and inducted on April 18 at a ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.

Among the nominees, Green Day certainly seems like a lock – and should be, as the foremost band in the second wave of punk and indisputably punk’s standard bearers today. Reed, who died less than a year ago, also should be a lock – not just for sympathy sake, but both as a groundbreaking artist with Velvet Underground and as a solo artist whose “Walk on the Wild Side” still pops up in popular culture more than 40 years later.

Sting also has had a strong career beyond The Police that qualifies him for induction.

Here’s how we feel about the others:

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: It’s an embarrassment the group hasn’t been inducted on two previous nominations. Jett was the inspiration for generations of female rockers. She even filled in for Kurt Cobain when Nirvana was inducted. Should be inducted, period.

Nine Inch Nails: We know they have their fans who view the group as something special, but we don’t. And Trent Reznor thinks way too much of his own talents. Shouldn’t be inducted.

The Smiths: Also has a very dedicated fanbase – which we think holds them in much too high esteem. The same thing we said about Reznor holds true for Morrissey, maybe worse. Maybe enough to get them inducted but we think they Shouldn’t be inducted.

N.W.A: Here’s what we said when they were nominated in 2012, and it still holds true: N.W.A. is one the most important groups in hip-hop history. Its most famous single was "F--- The Police," which came years before the Rodney King riots broke out. It was a launching pad for Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and more. Its album "Straight Outta Compton" is a classic. This nomination again ignites the debate over whether to induct rap artists into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I would argue that for its rock spirit and influence on later non-rap rock, N.W.A. deserves induction.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: The racially mixed group included not just Butterfield, with his inspired harmonica, but lead guitarist Mike Bloomfield. The group backed Bob Dylan at his landmark 1965 Newport Folk Festival "going electric" show. Enough said. They should be a lock.

Chic: The archetypical New York disco band had the No. 1 hits "Le Freak" and "Good Times." As good as those songs were, they were decidedly not rock and roll. Shouldn’t be inducted.

Kraftwerk: The hall says it is "the foundation upon which all synthesizer-based rock and roll and electronic dance music is built." That right there should disqualify it. Shouldn’t be inducted.

War: Close call. Its funk/Latin/rock amalgamation was groundbreaking, but it didn’t have a huge cultural impact. Shouldn’t be inducted.

The Spinners: It’s songs were catchy, but ultimately forgettable. Not innovative, not impactful. Shouldn’t be inducted.

The Marvelettes: Gave Motown its first official No. 1 Hot 100 hit with 1961's "Please Mr. Postman." A marginal call, but we would say no. Shouldn’t be inducted.

Stevie Ray Vaughan: Masterful guitarist who was innovative and inspirational for a generation of guitarists. Should be inducted.